TimSpencer's QB
inebrioxicated
Does anyone know how Oden did on his final exams this quarter?
That's a valid question isn't it? :)
That's a valid question isn't it? :)
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- Thread starter OSUBasketballJunkie
- Start date
Finally another day with a Buckeye sport on it. It has been a whole week and I need a fix. Florida, Cleve. State. Little johnny's school for special ed.
I don't care bring them on.
I don't care bring them on.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
OHIO STATE MEN?S BASKETBALL
In-state foes get a shot
Matta not afraid to face likes of Cleveland State, but only at home
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The risk no longer is the same as it was, evidently, even if the rewards are the same.
When Cleveland State visits Value City Arena today, it will be the third Ohio school to face the Ohio State men?s basketball team this season. Cincinnati next Saturday will be the fourth. And that doesn?t include exhibition games against Findlay and Walsh.
When Jim O?Brien coached the Buckeyes, he played four games in seven years against other Ohio schools ? and only because he had to. All four were scheduled by his predecessor, Randy Ayers, and O?Brien was obliged to honor the contracts.
Thad Matta tried to schedule a game with Ohio State when he coached Xavier.
"The answer was no," he said yesterday. "It?s a long story I won?t get into."
Now Matta is on the other side of the equation, coach of the No. 5-ranked team in the nation and keeper of a program whose upside is immense. But he doesn?t appear to be averse to risking its prestige by giving the Davids of the state a shot at Goliath, much as Ayers did when he coached Ohio State from 1989 through ?97. Then again, why should he be? "He?s got the best players in America," Cleveland State coach Gary Waters said with a laugh. "I think it?s better for him to show he?s playing some of the teams in his own state. It just brings more fan interest." Waters coached Kent State when it lost to Ohio State by six points in O?Brien?s first game in 1997. Waters tried to schedule the Buckeyes a couple of times after that but was rebuffed. "I think they thought it was a risk because we were a pretty good team back then," he said. "Why take those chances? I would have done the same."
But one of the games O?Brien nixed would have been in 1999-2000, when he had four starters returning from a Final Four team, including Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn. Yet he still considered the risk greater than the potential reward.
"That was him," Waters said.
Matta isn?t throwing caution to the wind, but he isn?t closing windows, either.
He said he won?t "make a habit of" playing other Ohio schools as often as he is this year but "may look at" giving them games as long as they are played in Columbus.
Ohio State will play Cleveland State next year in Cleveland as part of a two-for-one deal that will bring the Vikings back to Columbus in 2008.
"There are a ton of Ohio State fans in the Cleveland area, and showing our appreciation to them by playing a game up there is important to me," Matta said.
By and large, though, he prefers not to play elsewhere in Ohio, especially if the Buckeyes reach the point where they are selling out Value City Arena for nonconference games.
"It?d have to be monetarily (worthwhile)," Matta said, "because if we?re selling out, we don?t want to take a game away from here and cost ourselves money to go play somewhere."
Athletic director Gene Smith has said he hopes Ohio State and Cincinnati can schedule a home-and-home series after they meet next weekend, in Indianapolis, for the first time since 1962. Asked whether he is interested in that, Matta smiled and said, "If he is, then I am."
After four years at Butler and Xavier, Matta, in his third season at Ohio State, knows how good it is to be the king when the king doesn?t have to leave his castle.
"I?m real careful," he said. "We have the luxury where we can kind of pick and choose what we want to do."
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Saturday, December 09, 2006
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Official Site
No. 4/5 Ohio State Hosts Cleveland State Saturday Afternoon
Dec. 8, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Date: Dec. 9, 2006
Opponent: Cleveland State (5-5)
Site: Value City Arena (18,500)
Game Time: 4 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN Plus
Local TV: WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent: Tom Hamilton (P by P), Bill Hosket (Expert Analysis)
Radio: OSU Radio Network (59 stations)
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P), Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis)
BUCKEYES TAKE ON 3RD OHIO TEAM
The game with Cleveland State is the third of four against a school from Ohio this year for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has not played three Ohio teams in the same season since 1994-95. Kent State, Youngstown State and Cleveland State all play in Columbus this year with the Buckeyes meeting Cincinnati Dec. 16 in Indianapolis. Ohio University, Cleveland State (at Gund Arena) and Bowling Green took on the Buckeyes in the 1994 non-conference portion of the schedule. The last time Ohio State faced four in-state schools was in 1992-93 when Ohio University, Bowling Green and Wright State played in Columbus during non-conference play and Miami (Ohio) took on the Buckeyes in the National Invitation Tournament in March. OHIO STATE TOPS BIG TEN IN SEVERAL AREAS
The Buckeyes put together a successful November with six wins in seven outings. The effort to date also has the team leading the 11 Big Ten schools in several statistical areas. Ohio State leads league institutions in scoring (86.1 ppg.), scoring margin (+21.0 ppg.), field goal shooting percentage (.524), 3-point shooting percentage (.437), assists (17.75), 3-pointers made (10.8 pg.) and steals (9.13 spg.).
YOUNG BUCKS LEAD BIG TEN
Two Ohio State freshmen find themselves leading the Big Ten Conference in several statistical categories. Point guard Mike Conley Jr. leads the league with 22 steals (2.75 spg. and in assist/turnover ratio (+2.94). He is second in assists (6.63 apg.) Classmate Daequan Cook is second among Big Ten players in 3-point shooting percentage (.514/18-35) and leads the league in defensive rebounding (5.63 drpg.). Cook ranks No. 4 in scoring (17.6 ppg.) and is No. 7 in overall rebouding (70 rpg.). Ohio State veterans also find themselves among the league leaders in several categories. Senior Ron Lewis, after a 30-point effort at North Carolina (Nov. 29), is No. 3 in scoring (17.8 ppg.) and No. 7 in 3-point field goal shooting percentage (21-44/.477) and No. 5 in treys made per game (2.63). Senior Ivan Harris is tied at No. 4 with three others in 3-point shooting percentage, making half his attempts (20-40). Junior Jamar Butler ranks No. 6 in assists (5.25 apg.) and fifth in asst./TO ratio (2.63).
YOUNG BUCKS-TAKE TWO
Among all Big Ten freshmen, Ohio State's rookies lead the pack in six of eight statistical categories. Daequan Cook is the top freshman scorer (17.6 ppg.), rebounder (7.0 rpg.), overall shooter (.573/55-96) with 10 or more made field goals and 3-point shooter (.514/18-35) with 10 or more made treys. Mike Conley Jr. is the leader in assists (53/6.6 apg.) and steals (22/2.8 spg.).
TWO OF TOP 3 SCORERS SERVE KEY RESERVE ROLES FOR BUCKEYES
Freshman Daequan Cook and senior Ivan Harris make up two-thirds of Ohio State players averaging in double figures to date this season. Neither player starts. Cook contributes 17.6 points a game in an average of 24.0 minutes a contest. Harris, who tied a career high with five made 3-pointers at North Carolina Nov. 29, averages 11.8 points in 21 minutes a game off the bench. Harris' scoring average this season is more than double his career average of 5.4 points a game. He averaged 9.1 minutes and 3.6 points as a junior. Cook leads Ohio State in field goals made (55) and attempted (96) and is the squad's top rebounder from his guard position (7.0 rpg.). Cook and Harris are the major contributors from the OSU reserves that have scored a combined 290 points this season for an average of 36.3 ppg. Opposing reserves average 15.9 points.
OHIO STATE 3RD SCHOOL TO BE NO. 1 IN FOOTBALL, MEN'S BASKETBALL
Two schools, UCLA and Notre Dame, have been ranked No. 1 in both football and men's basketball at the same time, according to research performed by Tim Bourret, Clemson sports information director, who sought the information for a book project. Ohio State (7-1) moved to the No. 1 spot in men's basketball Nov. 27 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll and to the No. 3 spot in the Associated Press writers poll that week. The Buckeye football team (12-0) is No. 1 in both polls, as it has been the entire 2006 season. UCLA was No. 1 in both sports the week of Nov. 13-19 in 1967. The Bruins were No. 1 in the AP and UPI football polls that week and had won the national championship in men's basketball the previous March. The first poll of the college basketball season that fall was on Dec. 5, 1967. UCLA was No. 1. The Bruins then lost to USC in football, 21-20, in the next Saturday (Dec. 9, 1967) to drop from No. 1 spot in football. Notre Dame won the national championship (football) in the AP poll with a 24-23 win over Alabama in the Dec. 31, 1973 Sugar Bowl. The Fighting Irish basketball team then defeated UCLA 71-70 in basketball to end the Bruins' 88-game winning streak and move to No. 1 in both basketball polls. That game was played Jan. 19, 1974 and Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 the next Monday. The Irish stayed No. 1 in basketball for just that week before traveling to UCLA for a rematch the following Saturday (Jan. 26, 1974, where they lost to the Bruins. Both UCLA (Nov. 13, 1967) and Notre Dame (Jan. 21, 1974) were No. 1 for just one week in both football and men's basketball.
BUCKEYES VS. THE RANKED
Ohio State is 45-37 all-time when playing in a game in which both teams are ranked. The Buckeyes are 202-52 (.795) when playing with an AP Top 10 ranking and 301-92 (.766) when playing with an AP Top 25 rating.
MATTA REACHES 50 WINS AT OSU
Thad Matta coached game No. 200 in his seven-year head coaching career in the contest vs. Kent State Nov. 12. He recorded win No. 50 as a Buckeye vs. Eastern Kentucky the next time out Nov. 17. Matta is 155-50 overall, which includes a record of 53-19 at Ohio State. He needed just 68 games to win 50 as a Buckeye, the third fewest total games to record win No. 50 as a Buckeye head coach. Fred Taylor (1959-76) won his 50th game in his 64th contest as a Buckeye while Randy Ayers (1990-97) was the second-fasted to 50 wins, doing so in 67 Ohio State games.
CoachDategms to 5050th win, ScoreTaylor1/28/6164Purdue, 92-62Ayers12/18/9167@Santa Barbara, 82-75Matta11/17/0668Eastern Ky., 74-45Miller12/2/7976Tennessee, 91-65Williams1/7/8979Wisconsin, 73-70Olsen2/22/2780@Indiana, 27-1ye2/27/5083@Michigan, 69-58St. John1/1/1792@ Elyria, 33-25O'Brien2/25/04104@Minnesota, 70-59Stahl12/19/55106@Tulane, 72-66
BUCKEYES TOUGH TO BEAT AT HOME UNDER MATTA
Thad Matta has directed the Buckeyes to a 37-3 record in Columbus in three seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is 35-3 overall at Value City Arena, which includes a 23-0 record vs. non-conference foes. Ohio State defeated Chattanooga in November of 2005 at St. John Arena on the OSU campus and Youngstown State at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus earlier this season. The 30-3 mark from 2004-06 at VCA (13-3 vs. the Big Ten) is the best two-year record in the facility since Ohio State began play in 1998-99. The Buckeyes set the building record with 16 victories in 2005-06.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES
Jamar Butler: The junior from Lima, Ohio, needs eight points to reach 500 for his Ohio State career ... he has averaged 6.9 points over 71 career games, which includes 50 starts ... Butler is a career 82 percent foul shooter (107-131) and averages 3.7 assists a game for his career ... when Butler hands out four or more assists, Ohio State is 27-6 during his tenure ... moves to the shooting guard position this year after spending his first two seasons as Ohio State's primary point guard ... second on squad with 42 assists and 12 steals.
Butler in the Big Ten: Assists6th (5.25 apg)Steals6th T (1.50 spg.)Asst./TO5th (+2.63)
Ivan Harris: A senior from Springfield, Ohio, Harris has played in 96 career games for the Buckeyes ... reached 500 career points (524) with 17 at UNC (11/29) ... in eight games this season, his scoring average is up to 11.8 points a contest (5.5 career ppg.) ... a career 42 percent shooter from 3-point range (91-216), Harris is nicknamed "Microwave" by his teammates for his ability to quickly heat up the Ohio State offense from long range ... knocked down five 3s at UNC to tie a career high for made treys in a game.
Harris in the Big Ten: 3 FG Pct.4th T (.500/20-40)3 FGs Made6th T (2.50 pg.)
Ron Lewis: The Columbus, Ohio, native eclipsed the 1,300 career point mark with 11 points in the win vs. Eastern Kentucky Nov. 17 ... with a career scoring average of 13.8 points a game in 100 appearances at Bowling Green (60 gms.) and Ohio State (40 gms.), his scoring average of 17.8 ppg. this season is tops among the Buckeyes ... Lewis is a career 34 percent shooter (124-363) from 3-point range but has upped that average to 48 percent (21-44) to date this season ... scored an Ohio State career high of 30 points at North Carolina on 11 of 16 shooting from the field Nov. 29.
Lewis in the Big Ten: Scoring3rd (17.8 ppg.)FG Pct.6th (.573, 47-82)FT Pct.5th T (.750, 27-36)3 FG Pct.7th (.477, 21-44)3 FGs Made7th (2.63 pg.)
Matt Terwilliger: The junior from Troy, Ohio, has scored 121 career points in 50 career appearances for the Buckeyes ... recorded a career high 12 points in the win vs. Youngstown State (11/24) ... knocked down his first career 3-point attempt against the Penguins while connecting on 5 of 6 FG attempts ... moved to the center spot to start the season will return to his natural power forward spot with the return of center Greg Oden from injury ... minutes are up to 18.5 a game after averaging just over nine a contest his first two years in Columbus.
Mike Conley, Jr.: The freshman point guard from Indianapolis leads the Buckeyes with 53 assists and 22 steals this season ... opened career with 10 assist game against VMI Nov. 10 ... that VMI total is tied for the second-most assists in a single game by a freshman at Ohio State and is tied for the No. 9 spot all-time for assists in a game ... handed out nine helpers against San Francisco Nov. 20 ... his five steals vs. VMI is tied for the most in a game by an OSU rookie ... also recorded five thefts vs. Youngstown State (11/24) ... starts in all eight games ... averages nearly 27 minutes a game ... connected on all six FGs vs. Eastern Kentucky ... shooting percentage is .528 (28-53).
Conley Jr. in the Big Ten: Assists2nd (6.63 apg.)Steals1st (2.75 spg.)Asst./TO1st T (+2.94)
Daequan Cook: Four outings of 20 or more points in his young career, including his first game as a Buckeye with 22 in the season opener vs. VMI and most recently in the win vs. Valparaiso with 20 ... second on team with 17.6 points per game and is the squad leader with a 7.0 rebounds per game average ... the Dayton, Ohio, native plays 24 minutes a game off the bench ... has the ability to score both inside and from long range ... connecting on 57 percent of his field goals (55-96) and 51 percent from 3-point range (18-35) ... acrobatic one-handed dunk off an alley-oop pass from Jamar Butler vs. the Dons (11/17) was a crowd pleaser.
Cook in the Big Ten: Scoring4th (17.6 ppg.)Rebounding7th (7.0 rpg.)FG Pct.7th (.573, 55-96)3 FG Pct.2nd (.514, 18-35)3 FGs Made9th (2.25 pg.)Def. Rebs.1st (5.63 drpg.)
Othello Hunter: Eight starts to date for the Winston-Salem, N.C., native ... averages 7.3 points and is second on team with 6.0 rebounds a game ... shooting 54 percent (25-46) from the field ... also tops the roster with 13 blocks this season.
Hunter in the Big Ten: FG Pct.8th (.543/25-46)Off. Rebs.4th (2.88 orpg.)Blocks7th (1.63 bpg.)
David Lighty: Along with classmate Mike Conley, Jr., David Lighty started his first career game for the Buckeyes, the first true rookie to do so since Michael Redd in 1997 ... Lighty, a Cleveland, Ohio, native, plays 25 minutes a game ... earned court time with his defense but is contributing offensively with 7.5 points a game on 22-44 shooting (.500) for the season.
LEWIS EARNS 1ST BIG TEN HONOR
Senior guard Ron Lewis averaged 20.0 points and shot 56 percent from the field (19-34) in leading Ohio State to the 2006 BCA Classic Title Nov. 12 with a win vs. Kent State. The effort earned the Columbus, Ohio, native the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, the first honor issued by the league this season. Lewis also knocked down 10-of-19 3-pointers (.526) and 12-of-14 foul shots (.857) in Ohio State's first three wins of the season to earn the BCA Classic MVP honor.
ODEN DEBUTS WITH DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Daequan Cook scored 20 points and Ron Lewis had 10 for Ohio State. Mike Conley Jr., added seven points and seven assists. Greg Oden made his Buckeye debut with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in 23 minutes of game action. Samuel Haanpaa had 18 points and Urule Igbavboa 10 for Valparaiso. Brandon McPherson had 11 points for the Crusaders. Valparaiso pulled even at 18 on McPherson's layup with just over 9 minutes left in the opening half but was outscored 15-4 before the break. Ohio State then opened the second half with a 17-0 run. Oden entered the game at the 16:00 mark of the first half to a standing ovation after missing the first seven games of the season recovering from right wrist surgery. The two-time national high school player of the year received another ovation near the 16-minute mark of the second half after a pair of blocks on a single Valparaiso possession. Still not 100 percent, Oden shot left-handed from the field and foul line. His first point as a Buckeye was an off-handed free throw.
NOTING THE VALPARAISO GAME
Ohio State opened the second half on a 17-0 run after leading 30-22 over the first 20 minutes to take control of its seventh win of the season at 47-22 with just under 15 minutes to play in the second half.
The Buckeyes are 202-52 when ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 and 301-92 when playing as a Top 25 team. Ohio State is 45-37 when playing in games in which both teams are ranked.
Ohio State freshman Greg Oden made his Ohio State debut after spending the last several months recovering from surgery to his right wrist. Oden entered at the 16:00 mark of the first half. He finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes to mark the first double-double of his career. His first point as a Buckeye came on a left-handed foul shot with 12:56. Oden, naturally right-handed, converted 8-of-15 free throws Saturday. Defensively, he had an Ohio State season-best five blocks.
Ohio State finished the game Saturday with a season-high nine blocked shots. Five players had at least one block Saturday.
The Buckeyes made 23 of 45 field goal attempts (.511), marking the sixth time this season Ohio State has shot .500 or better. Matta's teams are 22-3 when making at least half its shots in a game.
Ohio State connected on 10 of 22 (.454) 3-pointers vs. Valparaiso. The Buckeyes have made 10 or more treys in five games this season. OSU is 37-6 all time when making 10 or more treys in a game and 21-4 when doing so under Thad Matta the last three years.
Freshman Mike Conley Jr. handed out a game-high seven assists against Valparaiso. He has dished out seven or more helpers in five games this year and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.9-1.
Senior Ron Lewis scored 10 points Saturday. He has scored double figures in all eight games this season.
Freshman Daequan Cook finished with 20 points to lead the Buckeyes. He has reached double digits in seven of eight games this season.
Ohio State attempted a season-high 37 free throws Saturday.
Ohio State has won its last 23 non-conference home games (at VCA), going 9-0 in both 2004-05 and 2005-06 and a 5-0 start this season. Ohio State's last non-conference home loss was to Texas Tech Jan. 4, 2004. Ohio State is on a 25-0 streak vs. non-conference foes in Columbus.
During head coach Thad Matta's stint in Columbus, the Buckeyes own a record of 37-3 in Columbus. He is 23-0 vs. non-conference foes (at Value City Arena) and has a 35-3 record at VCA (13-3 vs. the Big Ten). Ohio State defeated Chattanooga in a non-league game at St. John Arena in November of 2004 and Youngstown State earlier this year at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus.
Ohio State is 5-0 vs. members of the Mid-Continent Conference, including a 1-0 record vs. Valparaiso.
BUCKEYES WIN BCA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE GAME AGAINST KENT STATE
Ron Lewis led Ohio State with 18 points and three teammates joined him in double figures as the Buckeyes went 3-0 in the BCA Classic to claim the title with an 81-59 win against Kent State last Sunday at Value City Arena. Jamar Butler, the only starter back from last season's Big Ten champions, added 14 points, junior-college transfer Othello Hunter had 13 and freshman David Lighty finished with 10. Lewis was the tournament MVP for the Buckeyes. He was joined on the all-tournament team by freshman Daequan Cook. Nobody hit double figures for Kent State, the defending Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament champions. Omni Smith had nine points and three others had eight. The Buckeyes hit half of their 26 3-point attempts and ended up shooting 55 percent from the field. Kent State had 20 turnovers and hit just 4-of-15 shots behind the arc. Sub Ivan Harris hit three big 3-pointers that helped turn the tide.
OHIO STATE STAYING AMONG NATION'S TOP RATED PROGRAMS
Ohio State ended the 2006 season ranked No. 6 in the final Associated Press Poll and No. 13 in the last ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. This year, after losing four senior starters from 2005-06, the Buckeyes are currently ranked No. 4 in the coaches poll and No. 5 in the AP Top 25. Ohio State has been ranked among the AP's Top 10 in each of the last 15 games dating back to March 1, 2006 (No. 9 at Northwestern). The Buckeyes are 12-3 during that stretch with losses to No. 10 Iowa (76-70, 3/12/06), vs. No. 23 Georgetown (70-52, 3/19/06) and at No. 3 North Carolina (98-89, 11/29/06). Ohio State has been a Top 25 squad in for the last 33 games (26-7) since Dec. 23, 2005 at the No. 24 team in a home win vs. Tennessee State (75-65).
VIKINGS TRAVEL SOUTH TO COLUMBUS WITH 5-5 RECORD
Cleveland State has won four of the its last six games after dropping three of the first four contests this season. The Vikings own wins over Notre Dame College, Miami (Fla.), John Carroll, Delaware and Kent State. Losses have come against George Mason, Buffalo, Evansville, Butler and Kansas State. J'Nathan Bullock is the lone Viking in double digits offensively (14.1 ppg.). He also leads the team in rebounding with an average of 6.4 rpg. The Vikings are the third team from the state of Ohio to take on Ohio State this year.
OSU VS. THE HORIZON LEAGUE
Cleveland State is the third member of the Horizon League to face the Buckeyes this season. Ohio State defeated Loyola (Ill.) in the second round of the BCA Classic (87-75) Nov. 11 and then took on Youngstown State at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, a 91-57 OSU win, Nov. 24. The Buckeyes are 48-9 vs. Horizon League members.
BUCKEYES TABBED NO. 1 IN BIG TEN
Big Ten Conference media selected Ohio State as its preseason favorite to win the league regular-season crown in 2006-07. The Buckeyes are looking to win back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 1991 and 1992 after winning the outright regular-season title in 2006. Ohio State returns one starter from a year ago when the Buckeyes posted a 26-6 overall record and a 12-4 league mark.
MEDIA SELECT ODEN TO SHINE
Freshman center Greg Oden had yet to play a collegiate game while recovering from right wrist surgery in June when he appeared on the preseason All-Big Ten list turned in by the conference media Oct. 29 in Chicago. The preseason recognition is believed to mark the first time a true freshman has been so recognized in conference history. Oden missed the first seven games of the season. He made his debut against Valparaiso Dec. 2. He recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-58 OSU victory.
BUTLER ON WOODEN WATCH LIST
Junior guard Jamar Butler is one of 50 student-athletes participating in NCAA Division I basketball to appear on the John R. Wooden Award preseason watch list. The list will be cut to 30 in January. The award was created in 1976 and is annually given to the nation's best player.
OSU FRESHMEN IN STARTING FIVE
Jamar Butler was the last true freshman to crack the starting lineup for the Buckeyes prior to the season opener vs. VMI when rookies Mike Conley Jr. and David Lighty earned starting nods for Thad Matta's Buckeyes. Butler started his first game at Northwestern Jan. 29, 2005. He has been a mainstay in the first five ever since. The last true freshman to start the season opener prior to this season was Michael Redd vs. Kent State Nov. 19, 1997. Redd played 39 minutes and scored 21 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field. He also had nine rebounds.
OHIO STATE ON NATIONAL TV
The Buckeyes will appear on national television at least 14 times this season with the possibility of additional exposures as the regular season concludes, during the Big Ten tournament and in postseason play-should Ohio State qualify. Fans across the country got their first look at Ohio State over national airwaves Nov. 29 when the Buckeyes traveled to North Carolina for a Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup on ESPN. On Dec. 16, Cincinnati and Ohio State renew a rivalry at the Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. CBS will televise that contest at 3:45 p.m. ET. Other CBS games include a matchup at No. 1 Florida Dec. 23, a home game vs. Tennessee Jan. 13, at Michigan State Feb. 3, at Minnesota Feb. 18 and vs. Wisconsin in Columbus Feb. 25. The regular season finale at Michigan also could be picked up by CBS. ESPN will televise the Buckeyes vs. their first three Big Ten foes Jan. 2 vs. Indiana, at Illinois Jan. 6 and at Wisconsin Jan. 9. Four other league games will be featured on ESPN or ESPN2 during regular season play.
MATTA GOES FOR 7TH WITH 20
Thad Matta does not know what it's like to end a season with fewer than 20 wins during his head coaching career. The third year Ohio State coach came to the Buckeyes with a streak of four 20+ win seasons at Butler (24 wins in 2001) and Xavier (26 in all three years from 2002-04). With 20 victories in 2004-05 and 26 a season ago at Ohio State, Matta is one of two coaches nationally to record 20 or more wins in the first six seasons of his coaching career. Mark Few of Gonzaga is the other with 20+ in all seven years with the Bulldogs. Matta has the Buckeyes off to a 7-1 start this season.
2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO COLUMBUS
The NCAA tournament will return to Columbus for the opening rounds of the 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, the organization announced in July 2004. Ohio State played host to the first and second rounds in March 2004, as it will in 2007. Games were played at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, which will again be the site of the event in 2007.
BANNER IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS RECOGNIZES ODEN, DAVENPORT
A 160-foot banner is on display in downtown Columbus recognizing two of the more prominent centers in college basketball. Two-time All-American Jessica Davenport, a senior on the Ohio State women's basketball team, along with two-time National High School Player of the Year Greg Oden, a 7-0 freshman center for the Buckeyes, are featured on the larger-than-life display. The banner is part of Ohio State's effort to publicize its outstanding student-athletes and coaches around the city of Columbus.
THE NEWCOMERS
Thad Matta recruited one of the best classes nationally for the 2006-07 season. Four of the top freshmen in the country along with a talented junior college forward joined the Buckeyes for the 2006 fall quarter in Columbus.
The four incoming Ohio State freshmen all played for state championships during their senior high school seasons. Three won titles with the other finishing as runner-up.
Greg Oden (a 7-0 center) and 6-1 guard Mike Conley Jr., led Indiana's Lawrence North High School to its third-consecutive state championship March 25, 2006, with a victory over Muncie Central (80-56). Oden led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field. He also was the game's top rebounder with 11. Conley added 21 points and seven boards in the win.
Daequan Cook, a 6-5 guard, led Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar to its first state title in 19 years with a 73-46 victory over Triway in the Ohio Division II state championship game (3/25/06) at Value City Arena in Columbus. Cook scored 23 points in the victory.
David Lighty, a 6-5 guard/forward, led his Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio) squad to the Ohio Division III state title game as well. Lighty scored 20 points in a loss to North College Hill.
FOUR FIRST TEAMERS
All four incoming freshmen were named to their state's first team all-state squads as seniors. Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., were honored in Class 4A, the large school division in Indiana, while Daequan Cook (Ohio Division II) and David Lighty (Ohio Division III) made their respective teams. Cook, the Division II Ohio Player of the Year, and Lighty both made the Associated Press all-state tournament teams as well in their respective divisions.
THREE MORE MCDONALD'S ALL-AMERICANS
With the addition of Oden, Conley Jr., and Cook, Ohio State will have four former McDonald's High School All-Americans on its squad in 2006-07.
Senior Ivan Harris played in the annual game (first played in 1977) in 2003. Ohio State has had a total of 10 current or former student-athletes compete in the McDonald's game. Clark Kellogg (1979), Perry Carter (1987), Treg Lee (1987), Jim Jackson (1989), Charles Macon (1992) and Greg Simpson (1992) all played in the prestigious event.
Ohio State has had multiple players play in the game twice previously with Carter and Lee in 1987 and Macon and Simpson in 1992. Ohio State and North Carolina had three players compete in the 2006 game.
ODEN CLAIMS SEVERAL NATIONAL AWARDS
Greg Oden is one of the most recognized and honored high school student-athletes of all-time. His list of accomplishments grew when he was recognized in April 2006 as the Gatorade Boy's Basketball Player of the Year for the second-consecutive season, a rare feat accomplished just once before when LeBron James was so honored in 2001 and '02.
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM INVITES ODEN TO WORKOUTS
The only high school player invited to work out with the U.S. Senior National team July 19-26, 2006 in Las Vegas, Greg Oden was scheduled to practice against members from the national team who were selected to represent the United States at the 2006 World Championships in Japan and ultimately the 2008 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. Oden was unable to participate after right wrist surgery in June ended his summer schedule.
JUNIOR COLLEGE FORWARD COMPLETES 2006-07 CLASS
Othello Hunter, a 6-9 forward/center, was the final player to commit to the five-player incoming class of student-athletes in 2006-07. He averaged nine points and six rebounds a game for Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla., as a freshman. He improved those numbers to 16.8 points and 11.4 rebounds a game as a sophomore.
Hunter had 15 games in 2005-06 with 10 or more rebounds with a season-high 20 boards vs. St. Petersburg College (1/21/06). For his career, he managed 10 or more rebounds 19 times and 10 or more points 32 times.
Hunter recorded 18 career double-doubles at HCC, including 14 during his sophomore season.
Hillsborough finished 24-6 in 2005-06 and 19-14 in 2004-05. The team lost in the 2006 Florida Community College Activities Association State Tournament opening round to River Community College (75-68). Hunter scored 22 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked six shots in the loss.
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 644-635 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
The Buckeyes vs. the Big TenW-LIllinois5697Indiana6797Iowa6172Michigan7969Michigan State4554Minnesota7152Northwestern10144Penn State1812Purdue6978Wisconsin7760Totals644648
THE SCHEDULE
Ohio State opened the 2006-07 season as the host school for the 2006 BCA Classic. The Buckeyes earned the title with a 3-0 record.
The Buckeyes take on two of the nation's top teams on the road in 2006. Ohio State traveled to North Carolina as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Nov. 29 and later takes on Florida, the defending NCAA champions, in Gainesville Dec. 23.
A neutral-site game vs. Cincinnati in Indianapolis at the Wooden Classic renews a rivalry between the intrastate foes. Dec. 16. Tennessee also begins a home-and-home series with the Buckeyes with a clash in Columbus Jan. 13. The Big Ten season gets underway Jan. 2 with Indiana, an ESPN-televised game in Columbus.
Ohio State will play Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota once this season with home-and-home matches vs. the remaining league schools. Indiana and Iowa travel to Columbus while Illinois and Minnesota play host to the Buckeyes this season.
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Oden looks great in this one so far! 8 points and a few rebounds in the first 3-1/2 min...a two-handed dunk, and even "slappin five" with the right hand with his teammates makes me feel real good about his rehab / progress. 
:osu:
:osu:
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Cleveland St. is nailing the outside shot like we should be (but haven't to this point)
And we're geting a few offensive fouls called on us.
16-13 Bucks
And we're geting a few offensive fouls called on us.
16-13 Bucks
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Even when he isn't actually blocking a shot or grabbing the rebound Oden causes people to change their shot or he's tipping an offensive board to a teammate...
...and he dunks the ball too!
20-13 Bucks
...and he dunks the ball too!
20-13 Bucks
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Lewis and Butler aren't involved much offensively in this one right now, but the other guys are doing enough at this point
28 - 15 Bucks :osu:
28 - 15 Bucks :osu:
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